NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks pitcher Jack Novak unleashes a pitch in the first inning of the Mavs' 16-5 loss Sunday at Athletic Park to the Fort McMurray Giants.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Mavericks hit the speed bumps of all speed bumps Sunday to end a hot streak.
The Mavs dropped a four-game winning streak in large fashion, with a 16-5 loss Sunday at Athletic Park to the Fort McMurray Giants. In a game the Mavs trailed 4-0 early, they came back to tie the game up before surrendering 12 runs in the seventh inning for the bloated loss.
It’s a game head coach Kevin Mitchell says they’ll look to put past them, having another shot at the Giants on Monday. With five games on the schedule in the next six days, Mitchell says the loss goes both ways as an early season reset.
“It goes both ways, like we can do that to a team but it’s a good reminder, a slice of humble pie, if you will,” Mitchell said. “It can go both ways. So it’s not the worst thing in the world, if it’s taken the right way. And guys understand that we’re not just going to walk through anybody and that wasn’t the approach today.”
Catcher Nick Thibodeau hit a solo home run in the loss Sunday, his fourth home run of the season. Shortstop Blake Dale blasted a three-run home run, his second of the year.
The Mavs entered play Sunday having outscored opponents 52-33 in the first five games of the season and riding the four-game winning streak.
After Monday’s game against Fort McMurray, which was not finished by press time, the Mavs are on the road Wednesday and Friday, taking on the Lethrbdige Bulls and Brooks Bombers respectively, and host the Swift Current 57’s on Thursday before opening a two-game home stand against the Weyburn Beavers on Saturday and Sunday.
For a full game story of Monday’s game, see medicinehatnews.com/sports.
